Scanning Your Computer Using Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7 - Virginia Tech Knowledge Base [answers.vt.edu]

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Scanning Your Computer Using Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7

Time to Complete (in minutes): 35

Question:

How do I scan my computer using Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7?

Answer:

Notes:

When used alone, spyware detection and removal programs, including Spybot Search & Destroy, do not always catch every spyware program. For better security, use more than one spyware detection program on your computer (for example, use both Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy).
For information on downloading and installing Spybot Search & Destroy, refer to Downloading and Installing Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7 (http://answers.vt.edu/kb/entry/2435/).
To prevent new spyware from being installed, enable the Immunize feature. For detailed instructions, refer to Using the Immunize Feature in Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7 (http://answers.vt.edu/kb/entry/2458/).

To scan your computer using Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2:

Start Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2.

Note: If Ad-Aware is installed on your computer, an information window may pop up. If it does, click OK.
1. Click the Start button.
2. Select All Programs.
3. Select the Spybot - Search & Destroy folder.
  - In Windows XP, select Spybot - Search & Destroy.
  - In Windows Vista/7, run Spybot Search & Destroy as an administrator.
    1. Right-click Spybot - Search & Destroy.
    2. From the drop-down list, select Run as administrator.
      - In Vista, click the Continue button.
      - In 7, click the Yes button.
If prompted by a Legal stuff window, click OK.
If this is the first time that Spybot has been run since installation:
1. If you want to create a registry back up, do so by following the prompts.
2. Click Next.
3. Click the Start using the program button.
Update your spyware definitions. For detailed instructions, refer to Downloading and Installing the Latest Definitions for Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.2 for Windows XP/Vista/7 (http://answers.vt.edu/kb/entry/2457/).

Important: New spyware programs are created every day. In order to remove as much malicious software as possible, you must update the spyware definitions frequently.
In the left menu column, click the Search & Destroy icon.
Click the Check for problems button.
If prompted to speed up the scan by deleting temporary files, click the Yes button.
Wait for the scan to finish; this may take a while.
If Spybot finds any problems:
1. If you do not want Spybot to fix a particular problem, under Problem, clear the corresponding check box.
2. Click the Fix selected problems button.
3. Click the Yes button.
4. Click OK.
If a message appears saying that you need to restart your computer to remove some components:
1. Save any open documents and close all programs.
2. Click the Yes button.
3. Restart your computer. Spybot will automatically remove the necessary files when the computer restarts.

If you have feedback about the content of this article, please leave a comment. If you need assistance with these instructions, contact 4Help at http://4help.vt.edu.

Article ID: 2436
Last updated: 11 Sep, 2012
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If you have feedback about the content of this article, please leave a comment. If you need assistance with these instructions, contact 4Help at http://4help.vt.edu.